Metal treating process



Nov. 8, 1932. e. PURNELL 1,885,335

METAL TREATING PROGESS Filed June 15. 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 8, 1932. e. PURNELL 1,386,335

METAL TREATING PROCESS Filed June 15, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 8,' 1932 UNITED STATES PAT ENT OFFICE GUY PURNELL, OF ANGLE'I'ON, TEXAS METAL ram'rme raoorss.

Application filed June 15,

ening and/or. reinforcing the cutting edge or other parts of metal tools or the like. The method was first applied to a fish-tail drilling bit, and while it is perhaps best adapted for the treatment of such bits, nevertheless, it can besuccessfully applied to the cutting edge or any other part of a metal tool or the like, and can be used to strengthen, repair or reinforce any metal article. It is also applicable for use with various kinds of metal. a

The primary purpose of the invention is to build up the cutting edge or anyother part of a metal tool or the like, and to allow for the exact and accurate spacing of reinforcing inserts in a single operation. In accordance with the invention, the inlay or insert is neither touched nor allowed to float 'in the molten metal added to the part to be built up. This prevents the diamond substitute or insert from becoming broken while being heated. The spacing of the inserts or substitutes before the tool is built up, and

the inlaying and building up in the same operation, allow the free and accurate spacing of the substitutes or inserts; and in toois or other metal articles having more than one cutting edge, the inserts may be arranged in staggered formation in the cutting edges, so that the complete contact surface of the tool or other metal article will be strengthened, and this will result in one part or cutting edge beingas strong as the other, thus preventing the irregular wearing of the tool or other metal, and giving it longer life and greater eificiency without impairing its tensile strength.

40 lVit-h the foregoing objects outlined and with other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described in detail, illustrated in the accompanyin g drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a. plan view of a plate supporting diamond substitutes or inserts which are 59 to be built in to the edge orother part of a been initially anchored to the tool end Serial No. 544,656.

tool or the like, and showing the parts be fore thewelding operation has commenced. Fig. 2 is a side View after the inserts have y autogenous welding. 5

Fig. 2a is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the position of the parts after the operation illustrated in Fig. 2 has taken place.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but illus- 60 trating the second step of the process, and after the inserts have been completely coveredwith the fused metal.

Fig. 3b is a plan view of the parts illustrated in Fig. 3. 1 Fig. at is a side view partly in section, and illustrating the third application of fused metal to build up the end of the-tool to a third thickness.

Fig. 5 is a similar view after the tool has been turned upside down and illustrating the fourth application of the fused metal.

Fig. 6 is a view like Fig. 5, but showing the parts after the fifth application of metal, and the tool end ground to form the desired cutting edge. i s

Fig. 7 is a plan view partly in transverse section, of the cutting edge portion of a fishtail drilling bit having two cutting edges and illustrating the, manner in which the inserts 89 in one cutting edge are staggered with relation to the inserts in the other cutting edge.

Referring to the drawings, it is to be noted that if the tool 8 or other metal article is new orhas not been worn, the cutting edge or other part to be treated in accordance with the invention, is first cut off so as to leave an edge 9. The method of severing is discretionary with'the operator. In a worn tool or other article, it is unnecessary to cut off 90 any part, because the process builds up the tool or other article to its original shape and size, and in accordance with the invention, the built-up part of the tool or' other metal article becomes a constituent part of the tool or article, made up of the same or like metal of which the tool or article is made, and not by the .use of any special preparationas has been used heretofore. My process results in Y the building up or re-making of the tool or 0 other article per se; whereas, the processes heretofore known can be applied only to a new or built-up tool or other article. Therefore, if a worn tool is to be hard set with the processes heretofore proposed, it is necessary first to build up to the tool, and then, in another and subsequent process, to tin the diamond substitutes on the built-up tool or the like.

After the tool or other metal article 8 has been out off, (if necessary), the part of the v tool or other article to be sharpened, strengththe article.

ened, repaired or reinforced is preheated at the commencement of the process. In other words, the part 8 is first preheated, and it ed, a strip of metal 12 is built up which joins the ed e 9 to the nearest ends of the inserts 11. Hiatis not directly applied to the substitutes, but only indirectly, and to 'a small part of each insert at a time, beginning, as aforesaid, on the ends nearest the edge 9.

This process involves autogenous welding without the use of solder or other preparations, and the tool or other article is built up.

In the building up operation, the molten metal runs around the pieces of substitutes, and by successive applications of the welds, the inserts are'built into the tool or other article. As the metal of the rod is melted, it is, in the first application, fused to the tool and nearest ends of the substitutes simultaneously, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 2a, thus anchoring the diamond substitutes in I the exact places and with the exact spacing desired from the beginning of the operation. In other words, just as soon as the substitutes are applied, they become a constituent part of the tool or other article; and from that time on, they remain in accurate positions and they cannot float out ofposition, as has been the case with prior proposals. After ,the first application of the molten metal, a

second application is made, as shown at 13 in Figs. 3 and 3b, in order to entirely'cover the diamond substitutes and to embed them within the built-up portion of the tool or other article. Afterwards, a third application of' molten metal is made, as shown at 14 in Fig. 4, so as to fill out the cavity remaining from the applicants of the metals 12 and 13.

Afterwards, the tool is turned upside down, as shown in Fig. 5, and then more molten metal 15 is welded into place as illustrated in Fig. 5, to close the gap .or fill up the ledge re- 1,sse,ssa

maining from the first, application of the metal. a

Now, additional molten metal 16 is applied by autogenous welding, as shown at 16 in Fig. 6, and finally, the built-up portion of the tool or article may be machined to give it the desired finish.

It will thus be seen that molten-metal accumulated by the successive application of the autogenous weld, applied to a small part of the inserts and tool or other article, entirely surrounds and covers theinserts without the necessity of handling them or subjecting them to intense heat, and at, the same time, the tool or other article is built up to its original size, shape and thiclmess, with the diamond substitutes or inserts inlaid therein.

In treating plural edged tools, such as fishtail drilling bits, it is advisable to arrange the inserts in one cutting edge in irregular relationship, with the inserts in another one of the cutting edges, so that when the tool is rotating, the inserts of one edge will travel over certain circular paths,-and the inserts of the other edge will travel in paths between the first mentioned paths, whereby the wear will be equally distributed on allvof the inserts. By way of example, it will be noted in Fig. 7 that a fish-tail bit 17 has one built-up cutting edge 18 at one side of the axis of rotation (X-X), and another built-up cutting edge 19 at the opposite side of said axis. Each cutting edge is also strengthened or reinforced by inserts, but the inserts 20 of the edge 18 are spaced in a diiferent relation with regard to the inserts 21 of the other edge. In other words, if the bit was severed along the axis X-X, and the edge 18 was superposed on the edge 19, the inserts 20 would be arranged directly'above the spaces between the inserts 21.

So far as I am aware, this process is novel and useful, because it allows the exact and accurate spacing, as well as the building up of the article in one operation. The inlay is neither touched nor allowed to float in the molten metal, due to the fact that the first application of the metal 12 securely fastens the inserts to the article 8 before subsequent applications of molten metal. This also prevents the substitutes or inserts from becoming broken while heated, and accurate spacing of the substitutes to be maintained.

Furthermore, asillustratedin Fig. 7 the Furthermore, I have found in actual practice that an oil well drilling bit treated in accordance with my invention, makes a straight hole because no part of the bit will give when coming in contact with hard formations. The bit can stay in the hole several times longer than the ordinary bits, and the invention prevents the probability of accidents iI coming out of the hole, and saves wear and tear on the machinery.

The inserts in my process can be spaced to of an inch, where maximum strength is required. They will not float because they are anchored in position from the beginning, and made a part of the tool or other article in the,first application of the molten metal. It may be said in passing, that floating of the inserts, such as takes place with priormethods, necessitates handling and causes breakage, and the loss of spacing leaves flaws in the metal.

If a steel bit is to be treated in accordance with my method, the added portion is.

built up of steel of the same grade or better.

.No special substances are required to be added to the metal, and any suitable kind of diamond substitutes or inserts can be employed.

It will also be noted with my method, the tool or other article can be built up step by stepblwithout the inlay, should thls be desira e. i From the foregoing it is believed that the steps of my method and the advantages thereof will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, and it is manifest that changes may be made in the details disclosed, without departing from the spirit of the invention, as expressed inthe claims.

comprising placinginserts in spaced relation on a support, resting a portion of an article on said support with an edge of said portion in close proximity but spaced from ends of the inserts, then applyin a mass of molten metal by autogenous wel in to said ends of the inserts and the edge of t e article for. securely fastening the inserts to the article, and subsequently applyin mames of metal successively to the artic e by autogenous welding to build up a metal extension on the article having the inserts embedded therein,

then turning the'article u side down and applying metal to the artic e and ektension by autogenous welding to completely cover said inserts.

3. A method of the character described for building up first and second portions of a fish tail bit while arranging inserts within said portions, comprising securing ends of the inserts to the ends of said portions of the fish tail bit by applying molten metal to said ends of the inserts and the ends of said portions and thereby securing the inserts in such positions that the inserts of one ortion of the bit are irregularly arranged with regard to the inserts of the other portion of the bit, and successively applying masses of molten metal to the bit to build up a metal extension on said portions of the bit having the inserts entirely enclosed and embedde within thev extension.

In testimony whereof, I hereto aflix my signature.

GUY

What is claimed and desired tobe secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A method of the character described,

comprising first securely fastening an end of an insert to an edge of a metal article by the application of molten metal applied by autogenous welding, and then after the insert is fastened in position, completely sur-' rounding the same by applying molten metal on all sides of the insertin successive steps and by autogenous weldin to build up a metal extension on theartic e havin the insert entirely enclosed and embedde within the same.

.2. a method of thecharacter described, 7 

